Reactions To Armed Attack Outside U.S. Consulate In Istanbul Mount

ANKARA - Reactions have mounted after three Turkish police officers were killed in an armed attack outside the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit strongly condemned the attack.
"The attack targeted Turkey`s tranquillity, social peace and unity. But Turkey has the necessary power not to intimidate by such heinous acts of terror," Toptan said in a message of condolence he sent to Interior Minister Besir Atalay.
Prime Minister Erdogan said in a message, "these heinous attacks targeting stability and tranquillity of Turkey will not reach their goals thanks to determination of our brave security forces."
In a statement posted on the General Staff`s web-page, Gen. Buyukanit harshly condemned the attack.
Turkey`s main opposition party Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal expressed profound sorrow over killing of three police officers in the attack.
"Killing of three attackers is a sign of our security forces` determination in the fight against terrorism," he said.
Also Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, and said that security measures had been tightened in and around the U.S. diplomatic missions.
Assailants armed with pistols and shotguns attacked a police guard post outside the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, sparking a shootout that left three attackers and three police officers dead.
(UK-MS)